Chung Chi
As part of the Chinese Historical Wrongs Legacy Initiative, we’ve digitized a small selection of inquests and inquiries from 1872 to 1934, found in series GR-0431. These were chosen to reflect the experiences of early Chinese immigrants to B.C. – their living and working conditions, and their unfortunate accidental or unusual deaths. They range from a woman working in a brothel in Barkerville who died of natural causes to three sawmill workers who died from malnutrition. Learn more.
*All transcriptions are provided by volunteers, and the accuracy of the transcriptions is not guaranteed. Please be sure to verify the information by viewing the image record, or visiting the BC Archives in person.
*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum. Some materials may contain content that is racist, sexist or otherwise offensive. The Royal BC Museum is only the custodian of archival materials; the content does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Royal BC Museum.
Current Page Transcription [edit] [history]
Q: Did you find any pit lamps: A: I believe I did see a pit lamp on the level somewhere
Q: How far away from the explosion? A: I should judge about 40 yards, but it is hard to say.
Q: Was that in the return air way? A: No, it was right on the level. The air was coming in the level at that time.
Q: Were you able to form any opinion as to the cause of the explosion? A: Well, no; from all that I saw it was my opinion that it was a gas explosion, but how it was caused I could not say.
By a Juror:- Explosion are liable to occur to both white men and Chinamen. Do you think it possible that the same explosion would have occurred if there had been nothing but whitemen in there? A: Well, that is a pretty hard question to answer
Q: Do you think that Chinamen take the same precautions for safety as white men? A: I don't know; some may and some may not. Some white men do not take all necessary precautions. The Chinamen, I don't think are a class of men fitted for this class of work. I don't think they take all necessary precautions, for this reason; they don't know the danger that there is; but then I've known lots of white men that really didn't understand the danger, and I think there should be a very heavy penalty for breaking the law.
Q: Is it against the law for these Chinamen to take matches into the mines? A: Decidedly, I think so.
R H Hodson
Taken upon oath and acknowledged this 14 day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and three before me
James Abrams, Coroner
BC Archives GR-0431, Box 6 File 3 BRITISH COLOMBIA, ATTORNEY GENERAL. Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.